April 7, 1900

100 years ago

April 7, 1900

BROMSGROVE Urban District Council elections broke all records this week -- more residents placed their vote and John Brazier, who headed the list, polled more votes than any other candidate before.

THREE troublesome youths were hauled before Bromsgrove Petty Sessions for throwing stones in the town's cemetery. Frank Dipple, of Parkside, John Spence, of Rock Hill, and William Edwards, of Stoney Hill, were caught in action by PC Underwood. The boys claimed girls had started the stone throwing and they had retaliated by chucking clumps of mud. They were each ordered to pay 6s 10d cost and warned if they came before the court again they would be fined.

THE Messenger reported Bromsgrove Rovers were doing very badly and urged slack players to mend their ways. The team lost a Saturday game against Smethwick Wesleyan Rovers 5-2. According to the match report, goals scored by Smethwick were "very soft affairs".

AN unlawful man who had been convicted 28 times for drunkenness was once again before the courts for stealing fowl from Romsley. Fifty-year-old labourer William Walker pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour.

BELBROUGHTON Parish Council held a meeting at the village Workmen's Club House. The main topic for discussion was the number of parish allotment holders who were in arrears with their rent and allowing their plots to run foul.

50 years ago

April 8, 1950

A BELBROUGHTON preacher denied claims made in the House of Lords that he was communist and a member of the Socialist Party. The public attack was made by Lord Vansittants and came as a shock to churchgoers in Belbroughton. The Rev Gilbert Cope was a familiar face in the parish as he had been conducting services at the Holy Trinity Church following the illness and death of Canon W C Jordan. Some residents felt Mr Cope should step down, as his sermons were too political.

THE promising career of a Belbroughton musician was cut short by his sudden death. Eighteen-year-old Graham Parton, of Church Terrace, was taken ill and rushed to Sunfield Hospital, where he later died. His abilities were recognised by many well-known musicians in the county. Sadly, Graham was only one month away from finishing his training at a top music school where he had been awarded a scholarship.

THREE riders were injured at the Chaddesley Corbett Point to Point. The event was well attended despite poor weather. Many punters went home flush when four out of five races were won by favourites.

APRIL folly in Stoke Prior raised giggles among villagers when members of the parish Labour Party pulled a cheeky prank. The political figures hosted a mock opening ceremony for a new bridge at the foot of Knights Hill, where the River Salwarpe runs under Hanbury Road. One of the features of the bridge is that the flow of traffic never stopped during its construction. Labour members decided to host their own ceremony and to name the bridge after Donald Chesworth -- a candidate who was unsuccessful in recent Bromsgrove elections.

25 years ago

April 4, 1975

BRITISH Leyland workers at Longbridge who volunteered for redundancy were informed by company bosses to expect a payout of £2,000. Leyland was seeking 3,100 redundancies because of a sales slump.

HEAVY snow saw winter sports enthusiasts rush to the Lickey Hills. Many residents enjoyed the thrills and spills of a sleigh ride run as part of their Easter celebrations.

THE pressure of overcrowding at a Finstall First School was to be relieved by re-zoning the school's catchment area. Children from the new estates at Harwood Park and The Willows would now go to Charford First School. This move expected to cut the village school's roll from 310 to 260. Headteacher Mr Richards said: "The school really cannot cope."

BUILDERS at the old Regal cinema, in Worcester Road, were working around the clock to convert the site into a church ready for opening on April 12. Members of the Church of the Assemblies of God had been working on the building for a year.